Method and apparatus for producing surface waves on a body of water



Oct. 6, 1936. F. K. HERZ 2,056,855

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SURFACE WAVES ON A BODY OF WATER Filed Sept. l2, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l F. K. HERZ 2,056,855

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SURFACE WAVES ON A BODY OF WATER oct. 6, 1936.

Sheet 2 Filed sept. 12

3 Sheets- Oct. 6, 1936. F. K. HERZ I 2,055,855

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SURFACE WAVES ON A BODY OF WATER Filed Sept. 12, 1955 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUC- ING SURFACE WAVES ON A BODY OF This invention relates to WATER Fredrick Karl Herz, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application September 12, 1935, Serial No. 40,350

15 Claims.

new and useful improvements in wave making devices and more particularly to devices of that character for creating novel surface wave formations upon a body of water in a swimming pool.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character set forth in conjunction with a swimming pool or the like which is operable to produce waves on the surface of the water in the pool simulating natural waves of the character found at the seashore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device or apparatus of the stated character which is of relatively simple design and operation and which may be regulated at will to control the periodic frequency tion on the surface of the pool.

of the wave formabody of water in the Another object of the invention is to provide a device or apparatus of the character described which is relatively inexpensive and compact, permitting the same to be substantially concealed so as not to detract from the beauty of the natural surroundings of the pool.

These and other objects of the invention and the details of construction drawings, in which:

thereof are set forth Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing the Ide- VCG O1' apparatus Contemp lated by the present invention in conjunction with a swimming pool of the usual type.

Fig. 2 is a view in plan of the operating mechanism forming a part of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the disclosure in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view in side closure in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring now more particularly to the ings, reference numeral I elevation of the disdrawindicates generally normal quiescent level of therein.

the body of water An elongated opening 3 is formed in the inner side wall portion 4 of the compartment 2 adjacent the bottom thereof and below the normal quiescent water level of the water, so that the water may enter said compartment 2 and rise therein to the same level'therein as that in the pool proper as best illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In the present instance the lower or bottom wall portion of the chamber or compartment 2 5 is rounded or curved as indicated at 5, and a rounded projection 6 is formed at the bottom edge of the inner compartment wall 4 for the purpose of providing a curved restricted opening I to the said chamber 2. The elongated opening 3 previously described is provided with a grill 8 so that persons swimming in the pool as well as foreign objects can not pass inwardly of the compartment 2, and as a further'precaution spaced bars or rods 9 are mounted transversely of said restricted opening or throat 1, said bars 9 functioning also as supports or braces for the free end of the overhanging inner wall 4.

In the present instance, pipes or conduits I0 and II of substantial diameter communicate with the chamber or compartment 2 at the top or upper end thereof, said pipes or conduits I0 and II being relatively spaced with respect to each other. As shown in the drawings each of the pipes or conduits I0 and II extend vertically upward above the top of the end wall I of the pool in parallel relation for a predetermined distance at which point said pipes extend horizontally outward with respect to the pool in substantially parallel relation, the outer ends of each of the pipe lines or conduits ID and I I being open to the atmosphere as indicated at I2 and I3 respectively.

A pair of valves I4 and I5 are inserted in the pipe or conduit line III as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, and are relatively spaced with respect to each other along the horizontal extent thereof. The pipe or conduit I0 in addition to having its outer extremity open to the atmosphere as indicated at I2 also connects through a T-section I6 and pipe II with the intake I8 of a rotary or centrifugal pump I9 which is driven by any suitable means such as a motor 20.

In a similar manner the pipe or conduit line I I is provided with a pair of valves 2I and 22 which are inserted in spaced relation with respect tor each other in the horizontal extent of said line and directly opposite the valves I4 and I5 respectively in the pipe line II'I previously described. In the present instance the discharge or pressure side 23 of the rotary or centrifugal pump I9 is connected by means of a T-section 24 to the pipe or conduit line II intermediate the aforementioned valves 2I and 22 therein.

Llo

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious therefore that pipe lines I0 and I I which communicate with the chamber or compartment 2 at the top thereof become exhaust and discharge or pressure lines respectively by reason of their connections to the intake and discharge or pressure sides of the rotary or centrifugal pump I9.

Each of the valves I4, I5, 2| and 22 previously described is provided with the customary rotatable operating stems 25, 26, 21 and 28 respectively, said valves being arranged so that their stems project horizontally toward each other in aligned pairs as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Rotation of the valve stems 25, 26, 21 and 28 to open and close the respective valve members as the case may be, is effected simultaneously by means of links 29, 30, 3| and 32 xedly secured on the extremities of said valve stems 25, 26, 21 and 28 respectively. vIn the present instance shafts or rods 33 and 34 connect the links 29 and 3| and 30 and 32 in respective pairs substantially as shown in the drawings and each pair of links is connected to the other by means of longitudinally extending spaced bars 35, 35, the said shafts 33 and 34 extending through apertures adjacent the ends of each thereof.

`Referring particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawings, one end of the long arm 36 of a crank 31 is connected at 38 to one end of a link 39, the other end of said link 39 being connected at 40 to the shaft 33 which connects links 29 and 3|, secured on the extremities of the valve stems 25 and 21 respectively.

The crank 31 is pivotally mounted on a transversely extending shaft 4I at the junction of its long and short arms 36 and 42 respectively, the said shaft 4I being journalled in aligned bearings 43 supported upon inverted channel beams 44, 44. The short arm 42 of the crank 31 is arranged so that with the valve actuating mechanism in the position shown in the Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, said arm 42 will extend substantially vertically downward into the path of an actuating element 45 carried by a continuous chain or other suitable mechanism 46. In the present instance the carrier for the trip element 45 is shown as a sprocket chain 46 arranged to travel abouta pair of sprocket Wheels 41 and 48 mounted on shafts 49 and 50 journalled in spaced aligned bearings 5| and 52. The bearings 5| and 52 are mounted upon channel beams 53, 53 supported at proper height by any suitable means such as supports 54, the aforementioned channel beam 44, 44 being supported above the beams 53, 53 by means of vertically extending structural elements 55 as best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The chain 46 and sprocket wheels 41 and 48 may be driven in any suitable means such as by a motor Y(not shown) or by suitable connection (not shown) with the motor 28 which drives the rotary or centrifugal pump I9.

From the foregoing description of the valve actuating mechanism it will be seen that with the chain 46 moving continuously in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, the tripelement 45 carried thereby will engage the short arm 42 of the crank 31 and pivot the same in a counterclockwise direction to actuate the bars 35, 35 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, said bars 35, 35, acting through the links 29, 30, 3|, and 32 to rotate the valve stems 25, 26, 21, and 28, and open or close the valves I4, I5, 2| and 22 respectively as the case may be. For the purpose of returning the valve actuating mechanism and crank 31 to the position shown in Fig. 4 after passage of the trip element 45 out of engagement with the short arm 42, a counterweight 56 is suspended from the shaft 34 by means of a rod 51.

The valves I4, I5, 2| and 22 are constructed and arranged so that with the valve actuating mechanism in the relative position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, valves I 4 and 22 will be open and valves I5 and 2| closed. Therefore, it will be seen that upon actuation of the crank 31 to move the valve actuating mechanism to the left with respect to Fig. 4 the valves I4 and 22 will be closed and valves: I5 and 2| opened.

In operation of the device, with the chain 46 traveling in the direction of the arrow at the desired speed and the rotary or centrifugal pump I9 in operation, valves I4 and 22 being open and valves I5 and 2| closed as previously set forth, it will be obvious that the centrifugal pump I9, by virtue of the connection of its intake with the pipe line lwill exhaust air from the chamber or compartment 2 through the said pipe I0 and discharge the same through pipe line and valve 22 into the atmosphere from the open end I3 thereof. By exhausting the air from the top of the chamber 2 a partial vacuum is created therein which causes the water to rise within said chamber to a distance above the normal quiescent level of the body of water in the pool. Continued movement of the chain 46 engages the trip element 45 with the short arm 42 of the crank 31 and actuates the valve operating mechanism in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, causing the valves I4 and 22 to close and valves I5 and 2| to simultaneously open. With this reversed arrangement of the valves, it will be seen that the centrifugal pump I9 draws air from the atmosphere inwardly of the open end I2 of the pipe line I8 and discharges the same under pressure through the pipe line I I and valve 2| into the chamber or compartment 2 in the end wall I of the pool, and forcibly lowers the Water therein from the raised position effected by exhausting the air from said chamber to a distance below the normal quiescent level of the water in the pool. As soon as the trip element 45 moves out of engagement with the short arm 42 of the crank 31, the counterweight 56 functions to return the valve operating mechanism to the positions shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, thus closing valves I5 and 2| and opening Valves I4 and 22 to interrupt the discharge of air through the pipe line II to the chamber or compartment 2 and change the operation of the centrifugal pump to withdraw air therefrom through pipe line IU in the manner previously set forth.

`By exhausting air from the compartment or chamber 2 and raising the level of the water therein to a distance above the normal quiescent level of the body in the pool proper and thereafter forcibly lowering the water under pressure to a distance below said normal level of the body in the manner previously set forth, water is alternately drawn from the pool inwardly of said compartment and then discharged therefrom under pressure, causing periodic pulsating movements in the body of water in the direction of the opposite end of the pool and very cleverly produces waves on the surface thereof which roll successively to the opposite end of the pool much in the manner of the breakers customarily seen at the seashore.

The interval between successive actuations of 75 the crank 31 resulting in the operation of the valves to reverse the operation of the pump I9 may be controlled both by the speed of travel of the chain 45 and the relative number and spacing of trip elements #l5 carried thereby. It will be obvious that the relative speed of travel of the chain 46 and the number and spacing of the trip elements 45 will vary from time to time depending upon the particular size of the swimming pool in conjunction with which the apparatus may be employed. So too, by regulation of the time interval between successive operations of the valves in the aforementioned manner, the waves thus produced on the surface of the body of water in the pool may be controlled to effect a slow rolling wave formation or relatively rapid choppy waves as desired.

While a specific adaptation of the invention has been set forth for the purposes of description, it is not intended that the same shall be precisely limited thereto but that modifications and changes may be incorporated where within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. The method of producing surface waves on a body of water which consists in raising a portion of said body above the normal quiescent level thereof and forcibly lowering said portion to a distance below said normal level.

2. The method of producing surface waves on a body of water which consists in raising a minor portion of said body above the normal quiescent level thereof and forcibly lowering said portion to a distance below said normal level.

3. The method of producing surface waves on a body of water in a swimming pool which consists in raising a portion of said body at one end of the pool above the normal quiescent level of the body and forcibly lowering said portion to a distance below said normal level.

4. The method of producing surface waves on a body of water in a swimming pool which consists in raising a minor portion of said body at one end of the pool above the normal quiescent level of the body and forcibly lowering said portion to a distance below said normal level.

5. The method of producing surface waves on a body of water in a swimming pool which consists in raising a minor portion of said body at one end of the pool above the normal quiescent level of the body and forcibly lowering said portion under pressure to a distance below said normal level.

6. The method of producing surface waves on a body of water in a swimming pool which consists in alternately raising a minor portion of said body at one end of the pool above the normal quiescent level of the body and forcibly lowering said portion under pressure to a distance below said normal level to create a periodic pulsating movement in the body of water in the direction of the opposite end of the pool.

7. The method of producing surface waves on a body of water which consists in confining a minor portion of said body in a restricted area, raising said portion above the normal quiescent level of the body and forcibly lowering the same to a distance below said normal level.

8. The method of producing surface waves on a body of water in a swimming pool which consists in confining a minor portion of said body in a restricted area at one end of said pool and alternately raising said portion above the normal quiescent level of the body and forcibly lowering the same to a distance below said normal level to create a periodic pulsating movement in the body of water in the direction of the opposite end of the pool.

9. The method of producing surface waves on a body of water in a swimming pool which consists in enclosing a minor portion of said body in a compartment at one end of said pool which extends above and below the normal quiescent level of the body of water therein, and alternately raising said portion above said normal level and forcibly lowering the same under pressure to a distance therebelow to create a periodic pulsating movement in the body of water in the direction of the opposite end of the pool.

10. The method of producing surface waves on a body of water in a swimming pool which consists in conning a minor portion of said body in a restricted area and alternately raising and lowering said portion above and below the normal quiescent level of the body to create a periodic pulsating movement in the body of water outwardly from said restricted area.

11. The combination with a swimming pool having a body of water therein, of means conning a minor portion of said body at one end of said pool and means operable to raise the said portion above the normal quiescent level of the body and forcibly lower the same under pressure to a distance below said normal level.

l2. The combination with a swimming pool having a body of water therein, of means confining a minor portion of said body at one end of said pool and means operable to alternately raise said portion above the normal quiescent level of the body and forcibly lower the same to a distance below said normal level to create a periodic pulsating movement in the body of water in the direction of the opposite end of the pool.

13. The combination with a swimming pool having a body of Water therein, of means conning a minor portion of said body within a restricted area at one end of said pool and means operable to alternately raise said portion above the normal quiescent level of the body and forcibly lower the same to a distance below said normal level to create a periodic pulsating movement in the body of water in the direction of the opposite end of the pool.

14. The combination with a swimming pool having a body of water therein, of means confining a minor portion of said body at one end of said pool, means operable to raise said portion above the normal quiescent level of said body,- and means operable at periodic intervals to reverse the operation of said last mentioned means to forcibly lower said portion under pressure to a distance below said normal level.

l5. The combination with a swimming pool having a body of water therein, of means confining a minor portion of said body in a compartment at one end of said pool, a pump having intake and discharge ports, means connecting said intake and discharge ports of said pump with said compartment, valves associated with each of said last mentioned means, and means operatively controlling said valves so that the pump will function to alternately raise the confined portion of water above the normal quiescent level of said body and thereafter forcibly lower the same to a distance below said normal level to create a periodic pulsating movement in the body of Water FREDRICK KARL HERZ. 

